by Tim Franzen
Her story begins 15 years and 4 month ago when while exploring a
nearby residential area, A sign saying "free puppies" was spotted.
They only had females available, so somehow when the choice was made, the most special one was picked. Brandy hated baths, but didn't mind swimming rivers and ponds because it was her idea. Later in her life, she and I lived in a Camper Trailer at a resort in the North Georgia Mountains. She enjoyed being released from the bondage of
the car and chasing me driving ahead until she was panting and
had experienced a good work out. Many days in the Mountains, we would take long walks explore the rural wooded areas near our Trailer. My Parents had the pleasure of her company, keeping her for me following an unfortunate incident where she and my other dog
"Daisy" were poisoned for being Dogs, instead of him coming to me
to work it out, he, with cowardice gave them poison tainted meat.
Brandy survived because I got her to the Veterinarian's office in
time, while Daisy was not so fortunate. There is nothing so painful as watching one of your loved pets die and suffer and there's nothing you can do about it.
In Brandy's later years, I married her Mother, who fell in love in with her the minute she laid eyes on her. We ended up in a rural
community where we had a privacy fenced in yard. That afforded us
the opportunity to take in and still have to this day, countless
dogs and a handful of cats. Brandy, I feel, led a long life because of the stimulation of the younger dogs that she were forced into
her domain. Just weeks ago, she could be seen playing and enjoying
a pretty good quality of life.
It was just in the last 2 or 3 months when a growth was found on her
leg that her health began to fail. Sure, she had arthritis, which
we treated with a daily medication, but she fortunately didn't decline
drastically until close to the end.
Sunday, September 29th, 2002, will live with me forever. That's the
day my wife and I discovered that Brandy had been bleeding from the
Rectum. She was pale and Dehydrated from the loss of fluids.
After discussing all options with the Vet and that we determined that the prognosis would be at best "guarded conditon", I then had to make the most difficult decision of my life.
As the fluid was administered into her vein, I feel honored to have
been able be touching her when life drifted from her frail, old
body. She went quickly, which indicates to me she was very tired
and just needed a little push to send her rightful place at Rainbow
Bridge.
I have a feeling she is up there now, giving St. Francis of Assisi
as much of her love and help as she gave us while she was here.
My wife and I can only say that for the short time she was on earth,
we were the lucky ones to have known and loved her and although it
was painful, we couldn't have been anywhere else but with her when
it was time to end her discomfort and pain.